Shloka 5
सतं दृष्टवा विशुद्धात्मा त्रासादडुकमुपागतम् । आश्रचास्याश्रवसिह्ीीत्याह न ते5स्ति भयमण्डज
śaraṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā viśuddhātmā trāsād aṇḍakam upāgatam | āśvāsayām āsa taṃ rājā uśīnaraḥ—na te 'sti bhayam aṇḍaja ||
Bhīṣma dit : Voyant l’oiseau terrifié venu chercher refuge, le roi Uśīnara, au cœur pur, le rassura et dit : « Ô oiseau né de l’œuf, sois en paix — ici tu n’as rien à craindre. » Le vers souligne le devoir du roi de protéger celui qui s’est remis à lui, même si le suppliant est faible et vulnérable.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇa: one who seeks refuge must be protected. A righteous ruler’s dharma includes giving fearlessness (abhaya) to the vulnerable and ensuring safety within his protection.
A frightened bird (traditionally a dove) comes to King Uśīnara seeking shelter. The king, described as pure-hearted, reassures it with words of protection: “Do not fear; you are safe here.”